GERMAN NAVY P-3C ORION

The Lockheed P-3 Orion first flew in 1959, and is itself a derivative of the commercial L188 Electra that took to the air two years earlier, yet upgrades have ensured that the four-turboprop maritime patrol aircraft remains a hugely capable asset. Such is the case with the P-3Cs of the German Navy. It has a force of eight, all acquired from the Royal Netherlands Navy. Service induction in Germany with Marinefliegergeschwader 3 to replace the previous fleet of Breguet Atlantics began during 2006. Since then the Marineflieger's Orion fleet has seen extensive use on multi-national operations, notably European Union-led anti-piracy taskings in the Horn of Africa. New mission equipment is being added under the latest update effort, commenced last year.